New Conservation Options for Ohio Farmers and Forest Landowners

February 17, 2014

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Jan. 14, 2014 – The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), has several new options for agricultural producers and forest landowners to conserve energy, improve air quality, enhance organic operations, and achieve other environmental benefits.

State Conservationist Terry Cosby says, “The purpose of EQIP is to help landowners and managers keep agricultural land productive by applying conservation practices to reduce soil erosion, improve soil quality, and protect water quality. The conservation options available through EQIP now include additional conservation opportunities for specific types of farming and natural resource issues.”

EQIP provides financial assistance for a variety of conservation activities, such as nutrient management, reduced tillage, field buffers, rotational grazing systems, and much more. The application deadline for this signup period is February 21, 2014. To learn more or to apply for EQIP, contact your county NRCS office. An on-line office locator is available at http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app?agency=nrcs.